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Diesel Bug

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 8:15 pm
by Sabre27Admin
richard moore
United Kingdom
3 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2016 : 16:00:33 Show Profile Email Poster Edit Topic Send richard moore an AOL message Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Topic
I have just had engine serviced and been greeted with the news that the fuel in my stainless steel tank is contaminated with the 'bug' and needs cleaning out.
Suggestion is removal of the tank (under the cockpit floor as per usual with a Sabre), cut a hole in tank, clean it all out and then fit a 'hatch' into the tank and then refit and re-fill with new fuel. My first question - how do you get the tank out ?? and then, has anyone else out there had to deal with contaminated fuel and the cleaning of the tank ???
Thank you. Richard Moore, TIGGA TOO - Sabre 27 Fin Keel - 1979
tokomaru111
United Kingdom
38 Posts

Posted - 07/07/2016 : 16:27:14
Hi, I had the same problem, I cut a hatch in the cockpit floor with a jigsaw, fitted some strips to form a rebate then the floor I removed dropped in, was sealed and screwed down after work to the tank was completed. You then have permanent access to the area under the cockpit floor. Ron Walke

richard moore
United Kingdom
3 Posts

Posted - 08/07/2016 : 10:14:16 Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Send richard moore an AOL message Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Reply
Ron, thank you, what did you do or have done to the tank ? Did you have that cut and cleaned or flushed out ?

Thanks, Richard

tokomaru111
United Kingdom
38 Posts

Posted - 08/07/2016 : 11:09:06
Hi Richard, I can't remember what I did at the time, it was a few years ago, I just remember cutting the hatch in the cockpit floor, it made access much easier. I have Hunter horizon 26 now, I owned it about twelve years ago, I couldn't resist buying it again when I saw it in the boatyard.

Steve West
United Kingdom
5 Posts

Posted - 11/07/2016 : 17:12:41
I cleaned out the tank on Sandusky by siphoning out the old diesel throught the filler pipe with a hosepipe (while ashore - passing the hose out through the cockpit drain). I used the suction of the hose to vacuum the debris from the bottom of the tank, I then mopped up and wiped the bottom of a tank with bits of absorbent rag fastened to a bent coathanger through the filler pipe.

This process can be repeated by adding a little clean fuel and mopping out again. The inside of the tank could be inspected with a light bulb on a wire and a mirror on a stick (or one of those Lidl inspection cameras)

I discarded the old fuel and have used Marine 16 additive in the fuel, I have also added an agglomerator (sediment trap) in front of the first filter (see owners gallery - Sandusky new Beta 20 Engine)

richard moore
United Kingdom
3 Posts

Posted - 18/07/2016 : 20:50:19 Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Send richard moore an AOL message Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Reply
quote:
Originally posted by Steve West

I cleaned out the tank on Sandusky by siphoning out the old diesel throught the filler pipe with a hosepipe (while ashore - passing the hose out through the cockpit drain). I used the suction of the hose to vacuum the debris from the bottom of the tank, I then mopped up and wiped the bottom of a tank with bits of absorbent rag fastened to a bent coathanger through the filler pipe.

This process can be repeated by adding a little clean fuel and mopping out again. The inside of the tank could be inspected with a light bulb on a wire and a mirror on a stick (or one of those Lidl inspection cameras)

I discarded the old fuel and have used Marine 16 additive in the fuel, I have also added an agglomerator (sediment trap) in front of the first filter (see owners gallery - Sandusky new Beta 20 Engine)


Thanks Steve, i have found a company who have quoted to do a fuel / tank clean without any cutting - similar to your solution i think but on a more industrial scale!
Edited by - richard moore on 18/07/2016 20:52:33